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Heart Failure: Eating Less Salt
Sodium causes you to hold onto (retain) water, increases swelling in your legs, and makes it harder for your heart to pump. Eating too much sodium can even trigger sudden heart failure. Limiting sodium, a major component of salt, in your diet helps prevent your body from retaining extra fluid. Your doctor will talk with you about how much sodium you can have in your diet.
Test Your Knowledge
You need to limit the amount of sodium in your diet to:
Usually less than 2 grams (g) a day.Preferably, you should limit sodium to less than 2 g (2000 mg) a day. A single teaspoon of salt contains 2 g (2000 mg) of sodium.
Usually more than 3 grams (g) a day.Preferably, you should limit sodium to less than 2 g (2000 mg) a day. A single teaspoon of salt contains 2 g (2000 mg) of sodium.
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Why do you need to limit sodium for your heart failure?
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Heart Failure: Eating Less Salt
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 30, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator | |
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